Compare towns
Barnet vs Needham vs Sharon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnet | Needham | Sharon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
32,459Highest |
1,577 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Needham | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.